by Cat Brown
Today I plan on conquering that sock basket though and by the end of the day they will all be matched and put away.
There are always dishes to be washed. Toys to be picked up. Mouths to feed. You don’t get any time for yourself until all the kids are in bed for the night. It takes a strong person to be able to do this every single day all day long. Don’t get me wrong I am not complaining about it at all. It just makes me more perceptive to everything Courtney had to get done around here on top of working all day long. If I wasn’t here I don’t see how she would have gotten any time to rest. I am sure she had come up with some kind of schedule so that it all gets done.
I told Rob I would pick him up from the airport today so currently I have all the kids loaded up into my suburban and we are headed towards the airport. I text Rob when we get there to let him know we have arrived and I tell him where we are parked. That way I don’t have to drag all the kids inside the airport.
Rob heads towards the car and I pop the trunk to the suburban with the keyless remote. He tosses his bags in and comes around to open the passenger door.
“Hey man. Good to see you again.” Rob says getting into the car.
“Yea you too Rob. Did you get our houses squared away and the keys to Toby down the street before you left?” I ask him.
“Do you even have to ask that? Of course I did.” He shoots back.
When Rob is finally settled in his seat and buckled up he turns to look in the back seat. He sees all three kids back there.
Jason has his ear buds in listening to music on his iPod. Caleb is engrossed into a game on his leap pad and Miley is watching a movie on the built in TV/DVR system.
Rob looks over at me shaking his head in disbelief.
“How very fatherly of you dude. You are taking care of her kids now while she is at work? ” Rob jokes at least I hope for his sake he is joking.
“Yea I am and it is the best feeling in the world. Miley and Caleb are actually calling me Dad now and I freaking love it.” I try to keep the bad language to a minimum with the kids in the car. That’s something I am going to have to work hard on. I really need to clean up my vocabulary if I am going to be a good role model.
Rob just looks over at me incredulously. I have rendered him speechless.
He remains quiet, like he is scared to talk in front of the kids. He is probably scared he will say something he shouldn’t and figures it’s better left unsaid for now. I am sure he will bring it up later.
“So am I taking you to Lillian’s or were you planning on staying with me and Courtney? I could also see if Momma wants to fix up a room for you to stay in?” I ask him trying to figure out which direction to take.
“Lillian said I could stay with her. In her spare bedroom. I am not sure I want to hear a baby crying all night long though so I was contemplating staying at your mom and dad’s place. I think I will give Lillian’s a try for tonight though just to see how it goes. So you can just head there.” He explains.
“Okay. You are like a barrel of mixed emotions dude, you need to get your shit in check.” Shit I am already breaking my new no bad language in front of the kids rule and I just set the rule five minutes ago. I look in the rear view mirror and check to see if any of them heard it slip. Last thing I need is Miley running around saying the word shit. I don’t think that would go over really well with Courtney. Looks like they are all too preoccupied with their electronics to be paying any attention to me. That’s good.
“Look Dexter just because you were all gung ho about jumping feet first into a relationship that has kids involved doesn’t mean I have to be. It’s just going to take me some time so I would appreciate it if you would just back off for now man. We can’t all be as perfect as you.” He actually stomped his food like a toddler. I was really getting under his skin and we haven’t even been around each other ten minutes. I guess he still has some hard feelings after our argument at the Italian restaurant.
“Geez for a thirty year old man you sure know how to throw a little tantrum like a two year old. I am sure Lillian is going to be pleased to keep you company. At least I know she can hold her own or else I would walk you back into the airport and buy you a plane ticket back to Alabama so she doesn’t have to put up with your crap.” See I am learning. I really wanted to say shit instead of crap just then but here I am being all role modely and stuff.
“Whatever man just take me to Lillian’s house. The sooner I am out of this car the better.” He crosses his arm over his chest and leans his head on the window and closes his eyes. He falls asleep a few minutes later leaving me and the kids to have to endure his loud snores throughout the inside of the car.
When we pull into Lil’s drive way the kids get excited to see their auntie and new baby cousin Faith so we all head inside to say hello.
Once we get inside I spot Lillian Junior right away. She is asleep in her swing so I make sure to tell the kids to keep their voices down so they don’t wake her.
Rob and Lillian say their hellos and then I walk up to Lillian and give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then I ruffle up her hair like any good brother in law would do. She smacks me in the chest. It stings like a bitch.
“Hey girl! How you been? It has been ages since I’ve seen you feels like.” I say to Lillian.
“It hasn’t been that long Dexter get a grip.” She punches in my shoulder. What is with her hitting me today? She must be in a bad mood too.
Damn that hit hurt too. I rub my shoulder to ease up the pain a bit.
“Have you heard from Courtney today? She was supposed to text you and see if it was alright if we come over for dinner? I was going to cook something and bring it over so you didn’t have to do any cooking.”
“I haven’t heard anything from her yet. That sounds good though. I haven’t seen her since our shopping trip before she left to head to Alabama. I miss her. We usually see each other several times a week. You are taking up all her free time and she doesn’t have time for me. Our parents and sisters were planning on coming by tonight too so I will text them and tell them you are cooking dinner for us all.” Lillian pouts. It’s actually a serious pout too. I hope she doesn’t really think I am taking all of Courtney’s time away. She is going to be real pissed when she find out that I am moving Courtney several states a way. That is Courtney’s news to share though, so I am keeping that to myself.
“Yeah she misses you too. The bakery is working her like crazy this week. Even making her work on her days off. It’s not all me I swear.” I say in response holding my hands up in a surrendering motion.
“Yeah she mentioned that the other day. At least we will see each other tonight though and we can do some catching up. What are ya going to cook tonight?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet. Anything in particular you want?” I ask.
“Hmm not sure make whatever you want and surprise me. Courtney has been raving about your cooking to me all week. I am dying to see if you can live up to my expectations.”
“Yeah Yeah whatever. Well we better get going. The kids just wanted to come inside and see you and Lillian junior.” I wait for the reaction I am aiming to get from her by calling the baby Lillian Junior. I know she calls her Faith but I can’t resist.
I know that Junior is typically for guys who take their dads name but she was going on and on in the hospital about how the baby had to have her name. I just couldn’t help but tease her about it.
“Did you just call my baby Lillian Junior? What. The. Freak. Dexter.” She chops out each word. I can tell she was keeping her response PG rated because the kids were sitting right here watching our exchange. Then she punches me in the shoulder again. I better get out of here before I lose the feeling in my arm. That shit really hurts. I am going to have to wear shoulder pads to dinner tonight.
“What? You named her after yourself so I am gonna call her Lillian Junior.” I shrug.
“Okay whatever. I guess I will see you guys tonight.” She huffs in annoyance. I gue
ss she isn’t in the joking mood right now.
Oh goody her and Rob are going to be great company for dinner tonight. It almost makes me want to cancel but I won’t do that to Courtney. I know she wants to see her sister even though she did forget to text her this morning like she said she was going to do. Plus she will also get to see her parents and Becky and Sarah. Her whole family will be here so we will be able to break the news about her moving in with me and the fact that she decided not to leave with Dave.
We all say a round of goodbyes and start to head towards the door.
Lillian walks us all over to the front door and waves goodbye as we all get back into the suburban.
We head back home for the remainder of the day. We still have a good portion of the day left. Jason and I throw the football outside for a bit and then we kick the soccer ball around with Caleb. I play My Little Pony with Miley and then read her a book and put her down for a nap.
Caleb and I look through his shell collection and then his rock collection. He has several other things he collects as well. Collecting seems to be a hobby of his. He has quite the impressive shell collection though for someone so young. I think his collection is almost better than mine and I am a thirty year old man that has been collecting since I was ten.
I realize later on that I have to decide what to cook for dinner tonight. It has to be something that will knock the socks off Courtney and Lillian and the rest of the family. I begin rummaging through Courtney’s cabinets finding nothing that is calling to me. Guess it’s time to drag the kids back out to the grocery store for some supplies.
This could get interesting. I have never grocery shopped with any kid before. Courtney says she never takes them grocery shopping but she never told me why. I hope that we don’t have to find that out today.
I decide on making my famous hamburgers again. I know Courtney and Lillian have had them before but with so many people attending it will be the easiest thing to make and the quickest since I have let most of the day pass buy without another thought on making dinner. Anything else I would have made would have taking a lot more prep work so sticking to hamburgers sounds good.
I pick up some hot dogs for the kids too just in case they don’t like the hamburgers. I decide on making my mom’s famous baked beans recipe too so I grab everything for that as well as a frozen mac and cheese that I know the kids like to eat.
I grab everything to make banana pudding for dessert too. That’s my all-time favorite. I am not a dessert kind of guy but who can pass up a homemade banana pudding. Not me that’s for sure.
By the time we make it up to the register I realize why Courtney doesn’t take the kids to the grocery store. No, it is not because they misbehaved the whole time or caused a ruckus amongst the grocery aisles causing items to fall off shelves and mountains of fruit to go skidding across the floor like I had imagined. They were perfect angels the whole trip. I glance up at the grocery belt as the kids are helping me unload all the groceries up there and see a whole variety of various items I did not put in the cart. There is chips, soda, candy and chewing gum. Ice cream and ice cream cones and chocolate milk scattered throughout the items that I had put into the cart.
I shake my head and try to hide my smile. Of course I let them get everything except the soda. I know Courtney doesn’t like for them to have that but I feel like everything else is fair game. Who am I to deny them all that?
We all head back home and I begin to prepare for dinner and wait for Courtney to get home. I text Lillian to make sure she has a grill.
Me: Good afternoon Lillian Senior. Just wanted to make sure you have a grill I decided to make my hamburgers for dinner.
She replies back instantly.
Lillian: What kind of question is that? Of course I have a damn grill dumbass and call me Lillian Senior again and I will make sure you won’t be able to see straight much less use the damn grill.
Gotta love her sassy attitude. I laugh to myself.
Me: LOL. There you go making threats again. See ya later Lillian….. Senior.
Lillian: It wasn’t a threat it was a promise you better sleep with one eye open. I like to seek my revenge when you least expect it. Bye Dex see you tonight. Muahahahaha
I have no doubt in my mind she will seek revenge. Courtney has told me all about the pranks they pulled on each other as kids and even since they have all grown up. It’s like some crazy competition to see who can out prank the other. I will be ready. I had already started thinking up prank ideas the second Courtney told me about the competition. I wasn’t one to sit back and enjoy the pranks from the outside. I wanted to be right up in the middle of that shit.
Bring it on little sister.
Bring. It. On.
Chapter Nineteen
Courtney
When I get to work Friday morning I am furious. Elizabeth came to me when I first got here telling me I have to work tomorrow on a Saturday. Putting in my two weeks’ notice was the best thing I ever did. I probably sound like a whiney child not getting her way but they reassured me several times when I took the manager position that I would always have Friday through Monday off and here I am this week working Monday through Saturday and possibly even Sunday if I don’t get caught up on everything tomorrow.
I was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend at home with Dexter and the kids but looks like I will be working overtime instead. I probably could just walk out and not worry about it but that’s just not me. I am going to stick with it through the end. Plus I don’t want to leave them in a bind. Over all they have been really great to me here these past few months. Right now I am just letting the anger get the best of me.
Around lunch time Elizabeth calls me into her office. I head in there on shaky legs. Not sure what I am walking in to.
“Hello dear. Please have a seat.” Elizabeth motions towards the chair in front of her desk. I take a seat and wait for her to continue.
“I just want to start off by saying I am very grateful to you for agreeing to work this weekend. We have over booked weddings and I need someone here to keep things going at the office while the rest of us are trying to get all the wedding things taken care of. “
“It’s not a problem.” I tell her even though my voice doesn’t sound convincing.
“Well I know how important your kids are to you and I know we are taking time away from them and we do appreciate you being here. With that being said I wanted to let you know that we have a replacement for you lined up. It’s actually the woman who worked in this position before you. Turns out staying home just isn’t for her and she wanted to see if we could offer her the job back. Since you gave your two weeks it’s like it was meant to be. She is going to start back on Monday. So I am just letting you know your last day will be tomorrow.” She tells me this and you would think being let go early would upset me or make me angry but all I feel is relief! My heart just wasn’t in the job as much as I thought. I realize this now. Elizabeth continues on.
“You have been a great employee and we were happy to have you here but let’s just face it. I think we both knew this was going to happen sooner or later. I am just glad that you will be able to stay home with your kids once again like you always wanted to do any way.” Elizabeth stands up and walks over to me and takes me in a hug.
After a few more heartfelt words I get back to work and I realize I completely forgot to text Lillian after everything that had happened this morning. So I go ahead and send her a quick text.
Me: I forgot I was supposed to text you this morning and ask if it was okay if we came over for dinner. Dexter wants to cook.
She texts me back right away.
Lillian: I already saw your ding dong of a boyfriend this morning when he dropped off Rob. He already filled me in. I can’t wait to see you tonight.
Okay well good, with that settled I dig into my work for the rest of the day.
When I arrive home the house is once again filled with the wonderful aroma of food. All these gourmet mea
ls Dexter cooks every night are going to send me running for the gym.
Dexter walks out of the kitchen wiping his hand on a dish towel. He throws the towel over his shoulder and saunters over to me with a sexy grin.
He takes me into his arms and lifts me off the ground hugging me tightly to him.
I let all the frustrations from the day vanish at his embrace.
“I have some bad news babe.” I tell him stepping out of his arms.
“Do I even want to know?” Is his reply.
“Probably not but I am going to tell you anyway. I have to work tomorrow but there is some good in this. Tomorrow will also be my last day. So after that I am all yours for the rest of the summer.”
“That’s awesome sweetheart. Well not that you have to work tomorrow but after you get through tomorrow we can have a great rest of the summer together with the kids. Then we can start working on getting you guys moved in with me.” He places his forehead on mine looking deep into my eyes. His love for me reflecting right back at me.
“Well we better start getting ready to head to Lillian’s.” I kiss his lips quickly and head to gather up all the kids.
When we arrive to Lillian’s everyone else is already there. Becky has brought a boyfriend, he is kind of cute in his own nerdy kind of way. He suits Becky well though and I can see why she would be attracted to him.
My parents are chatting with Sarah out on the back patio. Sarah is holding baby Faith and I immediately walk over and snatch her up into my arms and give her sweet baby cuddles.
Dexter and Rob head over to the grill and fire it up and stake their claim on being in charge of grill duty. Both already have a beer in hand.
Jason Caleb and Miley all run around the yard playing with a kickball.
As I sit here and l take in my family I know in my heart that I have made the right decision by staying and I know that I need to inform my family tonight of that choice. I can see the worry in their eyes every time they look at me. Scared they are going to lose me forever. I will tell them all over dinner when I can have everyone’s attention at once.